Order and inventory management system

ABSTRACT

An interactive business to business order and inventory management system to fulfill customer requisitions and provide current product inventory status information comprising a supplier computer having information processing and storage capabilities to establish inventory of products and designated shipping sites, to establish and maintain product inventory counts, receive, accept, fulfill, ship and bill individual customer product requests, to track status of customer product requests and to generate customer product order reports and at least one customer computer having information processing and storage capabilities to order products for shipment to designated sites and to selectively request customer product order reports operatively coupled by a data communications link capable of transferring data and information therebetween.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] An order and inventory management system to fulfill customerrequisitions and provide current product inventory information.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Numerous requisition and inventory management systems to manageand process purchase orders along with tracking inventory are known inthe art.

[0005] With the introduction of automated real time inventoryprocessing, many existing systems are not capable efficiently meetingthe inventory and ordering requirements of either suppliers orcustomers. Thus, a need remains for a cost effective, real time orderand inventory management system accessible to a wide range of discretecustomers.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,712,989 teaches a requisition and inventorymanagement system comprising a host computer and a local computer linkedto permit two-way data communications in a real time environment. Byaccessing respective databases, each computer can build and transmitblocks of data relating to a particular requisition of an item inJust-in-Time (JIT) inventory or to the management of the JIT inventory.The other computer can then use the received data to continue processingof the requisition or to update JIT inventory records. Thus requisitionrecords are created from a real-time interaction between the host andlocal computers with each computer using data from the respectivedatabase in conjunction with information entered by a Customer ServiceRepresentative (CSR) operating the local computer. The system of thepresent invention also utilizes means for automatically determiningwhich items in the JIT inventory are likely to require replenishment.The system then proposes a purchase or transfer order for an optimumquantity of the item, which the CSR may accept or modify.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,727,164 shows an apparatus and method formanaging the availability of items using a computer system to accessdatabases located at offsite computers to retrieve/transmit preselectedinformation pertaining to the availability of items from/to eachaccessed database. Categories of items are selected by a user prior tocommunicating with offsite computers so that only the categories ofinterest are selected and only data pertaining to those categories isdownloaded to the requesting computer or uploaded from a calledcomputer. Once data has been retrieved by the requesting computer, theuser can use various parameters to select and display the receivedinformation in the selected categories. In addition, the requestingcomputer can automatically retrieve information from offsite computersat a predetermined time each day of the week.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,742,931 relates to a computerized system capableof receiving an input request from the orderer for a retailer, ofsearching selected wholesalers based on information obtainedautomatically from the wholesalers and of comparing these wholesalers toone another so as to provide a desired allocation of resources amongthese selected wholesalers such that orders are created for distinctitems. The search may be performed, for example, on the basis of netprice per unit item or on the basis of net price per unit weight or perunit volume. The system preferably automatically creates an order filewhich can be transmitted to the selected warehouses to order theselected products but which can be manually edited prior totransmission.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 6,029,140 discloses a computer system forestablishing and reporting product delivery dates comprising themaintaining a customer preferences database having delivery andreporting preferences for individual customers including early and latedelivery limits, performance measurement species, and desired advancedelivery times. The system further includes a step of creating acustomer order entry for a particular customer including acustomer-requested delivery date supplied by the customer. Acustomer-preferred ship date is calculated for the customer order entrybased at least in part upon the customer-requested delivery date and atleast in part upon the particular customer's specified desired advancedelivery time. The customer order entry is then routed to an orderscheduler. The computer system displays the order scheduler thecalculated customer-preferred ship date and obtains a targeted ship datefor the customer order entry from the order scheduler. The system thencalculates a targeted ship date window based upon the targeted ship dateand the particular customer's preferred early and late delivery limits.On-time product delivery statistics are generated for individualcustomers in accordance with the individual customers' specifiedpreferred performance measurement species.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 6,081,789 discloses a method for exchanginginformation between providers and users of products and servicescomprising an information management system comprising informationprocessing and storage capabilities with electronic communication linksthat permit buyers and sellers to electronically connect with theinformation management system for information exchange. Limitedelectronic access to the information management system is provided toapproved sellers of products and services. After approval, each suchseller is able to access inventory information of that seller foramendment purposes. Similarly, limited electronic access to theinformation management system is provided to approved buyers of productsand services and are provided a searching capability to search acompilation of a plurality of seller's inventory information usingcriteria specified by that approved buyer. In addition a buyer's listingof products and services is compiled from the compilation of theseller's inventory information for that buyer based on that buyer'ssearch criteria.

[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 6,205,365 teaches a production management methodfor ordering parts and managing receipt and stock of the parts by use ofa computer comprising inputting dates on which events related todelivery of the ordered parts take place during a period from theforwarding of the parts by the supplier to the receipt of the parts, asa plurality of delivery event dates and inputting a base date formanagement by designating one of the inputted delivery event dates. Onthe basis of the base date for management, management related to thereceipt and stock of the parts is conducted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention relates to a business to business order andinventory management system to fulfill customer requisitions and providecurrent product inventory information.

[0013] The system features an interactive inventory control methodallowing individual customers to place on-line orders with amanufacturer or suppliers, check specific order status, verify shippingdates, billing information and other pertinent data.

[0014] Further, the system is capable of generating job estimateson-line, allow acceptance of estimates by return e-mail, automaticallygenerate a job number and notify customer of job number by e-mail forcustomer's on-line job tracking.

[0015] The system may include such features or capabilities as a visualdisplay of information related to previous orders such as date ordered,date completed, quantity ordered, job costs, ship-to address, i.e.customer, warehouse, drop shipped, or direct mail as well as the abilityto generate reorders for individual or specific goods or products withprovision for reorders with changes; replenish inventory levels on-line;generate daily inventory reports; automatic inventory reorder atpredetermined level with customer notification; order approval bydesignated authorizing person or office and automatic shippingnotification with tracking numbers upon shipment.

[0016] The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,combination of elements, and arrangement of parts that will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope ofthe invention will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] For a fuller understanding of the nature and object of theinvention, reference should be had to the following detailed descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0018]FIG. 1 is a schematic of the order and inventory management systemof the present invention in a network environment.

[0019]FIG. 1A depicts a computer used to implement the order andinventory management system of the present invention in a networkenvironment.

[0020]FIG. 2 depicts the user menu of the order and inventory managementsystem of the present invention.

[0021]FIG. 3 depicts the administrator menu of the order and inventorymanagement system of the present invention.

[0022]FIGS. 4 and 5 are flow charts of the user access level of theorder and inventory management system of the present invention.

[0023]FIGS. 6 through 15 are flow charts of the additional functionsassociated with the administrator access level of the order andinventory management system of the present invention.

[0024]FIGS. 16 through 24 depict various screen displays of the orderand inventory management system of the present invention associated withselected functions.

[0025] Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughoutthe several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0026] The present invention relates to an interactive business orderand inventory management system to fulfill customer requisitions andprovide current on-line product inventory status information.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 1, the order and inventory management system ofthe present invention comprises a supplier computer 10 located at asupplier site 12 and a customer computer 14 located at one or morecorresponding customer sites each indicated as 16 operatively coupled orlinked by a data communications link 18 capable of transferring data andinformation therebetween. In addition, the supplier computer 10 isoperatively linked to a warehouse/distribution center or facilitycomputer 20 located at one or more corresponding warehouse/distributioncenters or facilities 22 and a transportation/shipper facility computer24 located at one or more corresponding transportation/shipperfacilities 26 by the data communications link 18. The supplier computer10 and the customer computer 14 may be operatively coupled to thetransportation/shipper computer 24 by the data communications link 18.The warehouse/distribution center or facility 22 may be located at thesupplier site 12.

[0028] The supplier computer 10 includes information processing andstorage capabilities or means to establish and maintain an inventory ofproducts and predesignated ship to sites, to establish and maintainproduct inventory counts, receive, accept, fulfill, ship and billindividual customer product requests, to track status of customerproduct requests and generate customer product order reports.

[0029] The customer computer 14 includes information processing andstorage capabilities or means to order products for shipment to selectedsites or predesignated ship to sites and to selectively request customerproduct order reports operatively coupled by the data communicationslink 18. The customer computer 14 may also be capable of creating andmaintaining per-designated ship to sites.

[0030] As depicted in FIG. 1A, each computer 10, 14, 20 and 24 comprisesa processor unit or device 28 operatively coupled to a keyboard or inputdevice 30, a printer or output device 32, a memory or data base 34 and amonitor or screen 36. As previously described, the computers 10, 14, 20and 24 are operatively coupled through the data communications link 18.The data communications link 18 may comprise any suitable state of theart transmitting/receiving system or means.

[0031] As discussed more fully hereinafter, the order and inventorymanagement system is capable of placing on-line orders, replenishingcustomer inventory levels, generating and communicating inventoryreports to individual users or customers, flagging inventory levels toreorder product inventory reaching a predetermined minimum level andinforming the customers, generating shipping instructions topredesignated ship to locations and branch offices or selected ship tolocations or branch offices when placing orders, approving orders orpredetermined products and/or prices by a designated customeradministrator, allow selective manager approval prior to transmission oforders to the supplier for shipment from inventory, real time inventorylevel reporting and shipping information such as tracking numbersautomatically sent to customers upon completion of shipment from thewarehouse/distribution center or facility 22. In addition, the trackinginformation may be directly linked between the customer site 16 and thetransportation/shipping facility 26 for ease of tracking and dataretrieval.

[0032] The order and inventory management system of the presentinvention comprises a multi-level access capability including anoperator or customer order data and control access level and anadministrator management data and control access level for differentaccess levels to system data and control as reflected in the menus shownin FIGS. 2 and 3 3 respectively.

[0033] As described more fully hereinafter, once logged in or on linewith the particular customer's information at the supplier site 12 onthe supplier computer 10, the operator or customer is able to query orto select the placing of an order using the following steps: placeorder, view basket, view order status, ship to administrator, changepassword, log out.

[0034] In addition, the customer administrator can: place order,inventory level, generate reports, view basket, view order status, shipto administrator, change password and log out.

[0035] The supplier has full or global access to all data andinformation of each memory or data base 34 for each customer site 16,each warehouse/distribution center or facility 22 and eachtransportation/shipper facility 26. The supplier is also able togenerate all reports that customers can generate.

[0036] The general overall operation and functionality of the order andinventory management system at the operator or customer order data andcontrol access level is best understood with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.As shown, the operations or functions at the operator or customer orderdata and control access level include: log in, place orders, viewbasket, view order status, ship to administrator, change password, andlog out. The additional operations and functions associated with theorder and inventory management system administrator management data andcontrol access level are best understood with reference to FIGS. 6through 15.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 4, when operating in the user or operator accesslevel of the order and inventory management system, the operator at thecustomer computer 14 at the customer site 16 clicks on-line and accessesthe data base 34, the system checks to determines whether or not thequery is from an existing or new customer. If a new user, the systemprompts the user or operator to enter information into the user table(FIG. 16). Whether a new or established customer, a discrete ordernumber is assigned to each new order. The user then clicks to ‘place’ anorder. The user selects an option from a display of search options,searches for the information desired (FIG. 17), reviews search results(FIG. 18), selects quantity (FIG. 19), clicks amount into temporarybasket, clicks to drop down menu for ship to locations and methods,selects ship to locations from preexisting list (FIG. 22), creating aship to account (FIG. 21) and selects a shipping method, indicateswhether customer billing is by credit or invoice (billed separately orotherwise).

[0038] If the order is on credit or invoice, FIG. 5 shows the flow chartwhereby the system calculates shipping charges, weight and order total,displays selected shipping address, total shipping charges, itemizedcharges, input fields for credit information. The user enters creditinformation or invoice billing information for validation. If validated,the system will charge a credit and capture funds on line or generate aninvoice, mark order “Submitted”, confirm on line the order with theperson who placed the order a summary of order information throughcustomer computer 14, and notify on line the warehouse/distributioncenter or facility 24 to fulfill the order. If the order is notvalidated or approved, the screen 36 displays a credit declaredunaccepted message and the operator may click back to input field forcredit information, or click forward to the administrator's menu (FIG.3).

[0039] Order Status (FIG. 20)—Discuss

[0040] As shown in FIG. 6, if manager approval is required for theproducts ordered, the system generates a customer on line or e-mail andan administrator on line or e-mail “approval waiting” message. If themanager logs in and approves the order, the order is submitted, an online or e-mail of order confirmation is transmitted to the customer andan on line e-mail is transmitted to the warehouse/distribution center orfacility 22 to fill the order. If the order is not approved, the systemgenerates an ‘order rejected’ on line message transmitted to thecustomer.

[0041] The administrator access level includes a number of additionalfunctions shown in FIGS. 7 through 15. Specifically, update order statusfunction (FIG. 7) wherein the administrator can query the data base 34and display orders that have been submitted, not cancelled, deleted orshipped on the screen 36; click ‘shipped’ to select the mode or means oftransport 24 such as U.P.S. Service Type transportation/shipper facility26; connect to U.P.S transportation/shipper facility 26 on-line; sendshipping information package such as weight, ship to location and U.P.S.Service Type; retrieve data from U.P.S. for shipping label; updatedatabase with actual U.P.S. charges and tracking number, select print toprintout U.P.S. label and print label; or void and cancel shipment bycontacting U.P.S., all over the data communications link 18.

[0042] Unique user and password information (FIG. 8), displays all userinformation such as selection of company to which all users will be sentchosen e-mail messages, input message selected to e-mail at user nameand password, and send on line message or e-mail to chose user.

[0043]FIG. 9 displays all user accounts and allows user to changepassword, deactivate user, or activate user; user can no longer log in.

[0044]FIG. 10 creates user account allowing administrator to select acompany for user and add appropriate user contact information.

[0045] The supplier has significantly greater access to and control overthe order and inventory management system.

[0046] The function depicted in FIG. 11 allows administrator to addproduct and select customer types, product name, description, SKU andprice manager into database.

[0047] The inventory function depicted in FIG. 12 queries the databaseand displays for all customers—sorted by Customer and SKU; audit atproduct; add or delete associated prices with selected product; displaydetail information on these products; and update product information oradjust information.

[0048] The reports function shown in FIG. 13 displays choice forreporting, user submits category and displays report of past ordersbased on user input.

[0049]FIG. 14 shows how the administrator can change password, verifiesthe changes and changes the password. FIG. 24 depicts the screen foraccomplishing this function.

[0050]FIG. 15 shows an administrator option selection to ‘ship toadministrator’ including display form to create a new ship to locationfor this user only or view locations, fill out form and create ship tolocation for this user, or query database for ship to locations for thisuser and display them such that user can delete a location.

[0051] Initially, either an existing customer or a prospective customerestablishes communications with the supplier computer 10 through thecustomer computer 14 over the data communications link 18.

[0052] In use, the operator signs on with the customer computer 14 byentering the information shown in FIG. 16. The operator selects one ofthe functions from the user menu as shown in FIG. 2. The operator canorder products directly using appropriate product SKUs. If the operatordoes not know the appropriate SKUs, a product search may be selected asshown in FIG. 17 to determine and enter the SKUs and to designate thedesired quantity for the desired product(s). Alternatively, visualimages of the actual products may be selected for display and ordering.

[0053] Search results may be displayed for display and order selectionas shown in FIG. 18. Selected products can then be designated forselected predesignated locations or other locations and entered as shownin FIG. 19 by selecting one or more predesignated locations (FIG. 22) orentering shipping information (FIG. 21).

[0054] Various reports can be generated, displayed and reviewed by aparticular customer administrator for that customer's records or thesupplier can generate, display and review reports globally or bycustomer, as shown in FIG. 23. The reports can be organized by timeperiod, product, specific date, specific customer, specific orderlocation, specific item number or SKU with or without prices, receivinglocations and other pertinent or relevant category.

[0055] Predetermined inventory levels for individual products can be setand automatically flagged by the warehouse/distribution center orfacility computer 20 to automatically replenish the inventory level forthat particular product to a predetermined stocking level.

[0056] The system can compare the quantity a particular product withinventory and when the inventory of an ordered product is insufficientto completely fill an order, the request for that particular product isheld until the entire order for that product can be fulfilled.

[0057] It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, amongthose made apparent from the preceding description are efficientlyattained and since certain changes may be made in the above constructionwithout departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended thatall matter contained in the above description or shown in theaccompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

[0058] It is also to be understood that the following claims areintended to cover all of the generic and specific features of theinvention herein described, and all statements of the scope of theinvention which, as a matter of language, might be said to falltherebetween.

[0059] Now that the invention has been described,

What is claimed is:
 1. An order and inventory management system tofulfill customer requisitions and provide current product inventorystatus information comprising a supplier computer having informationprocessing and storage capabilities to establish inventory of productsand designated shipping sites , to establish and maintain productinventory counts, receive, accept, fulfill, ship and bill individualcustomer product requests, to track status of customer product requestsand to generate customer product order reports and at least one customercomputer having information processing and storage capabilities to orderproducts for shipment to designated sites and to selectively requestcustomer product order reports operatively coupled by a datacommunications link capable of transferring data and information
 2. Theorder and inventory management system of claim 1 further including atransportation/shipper facility computer coupled to said suppliercomputer and said data communications link to transfer shippinginformation therebetween.
 3. The order and inventory management systemof claim 2 wherein said designated sites are predetermined.
 4. The orderand inventory management system of claim 3 wherein said designated sitesare selectively entered with specific product orders.
 5. The order andinventory management system of claim 2 wherein said designated sites areselectively entered with a specific product order.
 6. The order andinventory management system of claim 2 further including awarehouse/distribution center or facility computer coupled to, saidsupplier computer and said transportation/shipper facility computer bysaid data communication link whereby real time inventory level reportingand shipping information such as tracking numbers are sent to anordering customer upon completion of shipment from said warehousedistribution center or facility.
 7. The order and inventory managementsystem of claim 1 further includes a warehouse/distribution center orfacility computer coupled to a warehouse/distribution center orfacility, said supplier computer, said transportation/shipper facilitycomputer by said data communication link whereby real time inventorylevel reporting and shipping information such as tracking numbers aresent to customer upon completion of shipment from said warehousedistribution center or facility.
 8. The order and inventory managementsystem of claim 7 said tracking information is directly linked betweensaid customer computer and said transportation/shipping facilitycomputer for ease of tracking and data retrieval.
 9. The order andinventory management system of claim 7 wherein various reports aregenerated, displayed and reviewed by a particular customer administratorfor that customer's records or the supplier can generate, display andreview reports globally or by customer; said reports can be organized bytime period, product, specific date, specific customer, specific orderlocation, specific item number or SKU with or without prices, receivinglocations and other pertinent or relevant category.
 10. The order andinventory management system of claim 6 wherein predetermined inventorylevels for individual products are set and automatically flagged by saidwarehouse/distribution center or facility computer to automaticallyreplenish the inventory level for that particular product to apredetermined stocking level.
 11. The order and inventory managementsystem of claim 1 further including a warehouse/distribution center orfacility computer coupled to, said supplier computer and customercomputer by said data communication link whereby real time inventorylevel reporting and shipping information such as tracking numbers aresent to an ordering customer upon completion of shipment from saidwarehouse distribution center or facility.
 12. The order and inventorymanagement system of claim 11 further including a transportation/shipperfacility computer coupled to said supplier computer and said datacommunications link to transfer shipping information therebetween. 13.The order and inventory management system of claim 12 said trackinginformation is directly linked between said customer computer and saidtransportation/shipping facility computer for ease of tracking and dataretrieval.
 14. The order and inventory management system of claim 12wherein various reports are generated, displayed and reviewed by aparticular customer administrator for that customer's records or thesupplier can generate, display and review reports globally or bycustomer; said reports can be organized by time period, product,specific date, specific customer, specific order location, specific itemnumber or SKU with or without prices, receiving locations and otherpertinent or relevant category.
 15. The order and inventory managementsystem of claim 11 wherein predetermined inventory levels for individualproducts are set and automatically flagged by saidwarehouse/distribution center or facility computer to automaticallyreplenish the inventory level for that particular product to apredetermined stocking level.
 16. The order and inventory managementsystem of claim 11 wherein said designated sites are predetermined. 17.The order and inventory management system of claim 11 wherein saiddesignated sites are selectively entered with specific product orders.18. The order and inventory management system of claim 4 wherein saiddesignated sites are selectively entered with a specific product order.